Michael C. Hall, "Dexter"

Nomination Status: After four straight nominations, it's hard to pick against him. But I'm picking against him.

In His Favor: Michael C. Hall has been a reliable Emmy nominee for his showy lead performance on "Dexter," also winning prizes from Golden Globes and SAG Award voters. And, in general, Hall has been entirely worthy of all of the award recognition he's received. He's marvelously talented.

Working Against Him: Most fans had issues with the zigs and zags "Dexter" took in its sixth season and while it almost sounds sacrilegious to say, I might as well: Hall wasn't very good last season. The writers hung him out to dry by making Dexter do stupid or inconsistent things, but Hall played those stupid and inconsistent things poorly, for the most part. The combination of weak [by his personal standards more than anything else] performance, waning critical/fan support and high profile new candidates should be enough to knock even complacent Emmy voters.